{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T16:58:15Z","timestamp":1790873895179,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,5]],"date-time":"2025-07-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751673600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the Government of Aragon (Spain) (research group A16_23R)"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoan parasites that cause cryptosporidiosis, an enteric disease that can affect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. Pigs play a potential role in the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. to humans, although infections are most often subclinical. This study aimed to assess the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in swine farms located in Arag\u00f3n, northeastern Spain. Fecal samples (n = 72) were collected from 10 breeding farms, encompassing various production stages (lactation, nursery, fattening, and\/or wean-to-finish). Data regarding the type of production system (two- or three-stage), production stages, and farming facilities (the type of flooring and water source) associated with the parasite presence were also analyzed using a questionnaire. The results showed that Cryptosporidium spp. were more frequently detected in fecal samples originating from three-stage production systems (21.9%) compared to two-stage systems (12.5%). Samples from the fattening stage exhibited the highest positivity rate and estimated oocyst count (3.0 oocyst\/microscopic field). Furthermore, the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. revealed the circulation of multiple species both among farms and within the same pig production flow, with Cryptosporidium scrofarum being the most prevalent species (7\/72; 9.7%), followed by Cryptosporidium suis (1\/72; 1.4%). These findings underscore the importance of the surveillance and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. for controlling infections in pigs, considering the potential for the zoonotic transmission of this parasite to humans.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens14070665","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,7]],"date-time":"2025-07-07T08:58:23Z","timestamp":1751878703000},"page":"665","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Occurrence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Swine Farms in Northeastern Spain"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7106-0068","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Garza-Moreno","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain"},{"name":"Agri-Food Institute of Arag\u00f3n (IA2), University of Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Celia","family":"Le\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7831-2483","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joaqu\u00edn","family":"Qu\u00edlez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain"},{"name":"Agri-Food Institute of Arag\u00f3n (IA2), University of Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1667","DOI":"10.1017\/S0031182014001085","article-title":"Cryptosporidium species in humans and animals: Current understanding and research needs","volume":"141","author":"Ryan","year":"2014","journal-title":"Parasitology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6603","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2011.10.013","article-title":"Waterborne transmission of protozoan parasites: Review of worldwide outbreaks\u2014An update 2004\u20132010","volume":"45","author":"Baldursson","year":"2011","journal-title":"Water Res."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105551","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2020.105551","article-title":"Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in pigs in Xinjiang, China","volume":"209","author":"Qi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Trop."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.3347\/kjp.2015.53.1.113","article-title":"Cryptosporidium suis infection in post-weaned and adult pigs in Shaanxi province, Northwestern China","volume":"53","author":"Lin","year":"2015","journal-title":"Korean J. 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